Automatic vehicle brake and directional lights initiator

ABSTRACT

A vehicle brake and directional lights initiator including two groups of sensors for viewing the left and right sides, respectively, of a preceding vehicle. Means are described for determining whether all of the red light sensed is a component of white light or whether at least a portion of the red light sensed is the output of the rear lights of the preceding vehicle. When at least a portion of the red light sensed is the result of red light radiating from the rear of the preceding vehicle, a circuit is responsive thereto for energizing the brake and directional lights in response to like energization by the operator of the preceding vehicle and for energizing the brake lights when the rate of closure between the vehicles exceeds a predetermined value.

[ Feb. 19, 1974 United States Patent [191 McIntosh 3,251,997 5/1966 Bellet 315/134 X AUTOMATIC VEHICLE BRAKE AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS INITIATORPn'mary Examiner-Alvin H. Waring [75] Inventor: Duane E. McIntosh,Palmyra, Wis. Attorney Agent or Firm Hward N. Conkey [73] Assignee:General Motors Corporation,

ABSTRACT A vehicle brake and directional lights initiator including twogroups of sensors for viewing the left and right sides, respectively, ofa preceding vehicle. Means are Detroit, Mich.

221 Filed: Nov. 24, 1972 211 Appl.No.:309,222

described for determining whether all of the red light sensed is acomponent of white light or whether at least a portion of the red lightsensed is the output of the rear lights of the preceding vehicle. Whenat least a portion of the red light sensed is the result of red [58]Field of Search........... 340/31, 33, 34, 53, 104;

light radiating from the rear of the preceding vehicle, a circuit isresponsive thereto for energizing the brake and directional lights inresponse to like energization by the operator of the preceding vehicleand for energizing the brake lights when the rate of closure be- [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 340/33 37:1 tween the vehiclesexceeds a predetermined value.

340/34 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Meyer...... 1/1970 2,974,304 3/1961Nordlund.......................=...... 3,210,726 10/1965 ALARM TO BRAKELIGHTS TO FIGHT NDICATOR LIGHTS TO LEFT INDICATOR ;HT DISCRIMI- I -NATORSIGNAL 86 CONTROL CIRCUIT J LEFT LIGHT SENSOR PATENTEB FEB I 9 I974 TOBRAKE LIGHTS TO RIGHT NDICATOR LiGHTS TO LEFT INDICATOR LIGHTS T'TLIGHTDISCRIMI- 1 1ATOR SIGNAL 86 CONTROL CIRCUIT AUTOMATIC VEHICLE BRAKE ANDDIRECTIONAL LIGHTS INITIATOR This invention relates to a vehicle brakeand directional lights initiator for energizing the vehicle brake anddirectional lights in response to corresponding en ergization of thebrake and directional lights by the operator of a preceding vehicle andfor energizing the brake lights when the rate of closure between thevehicles exceeds a predetermined value.

When the brake or directional lights of a first vehicle preceding asecond vehicle are energized, it is desirable to relay this informationto a third vehicle following the second vehicle in as short a time aspossible to provide the operator of the third vehicle maximum time toreact to the information provided. It is the general object of thisinvention to provide an automatic vehicle brake and directional lightsinitiator for energizing the vehicle brake and directional lights inresponse to the energization of the respective brake or directionallights of a preceding vehicle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a brake anddirectional lights initiator installed in a vehicle for monitoring thered light radiating from the rear of a preceding vehicle and initiatingthe energization of the brake or directional lights of the vehicle inwhich the initiator is installed in response to the energization of therespective brake or directional lights of the preceding vehicle, theinitiator being insensitive to the red component of white light.

It is another object of this invention to provide a brake anddirectional lights initiator installed on a vehicle for monitoring thered light radiating from the rear ofa preceding vehicle and initiatingthe energization of the brake or directional lights of the vehicle inwhich the initiator is installed in response to the energization of therespective brake or directional lights of the preceding vehicle and forenergizing the brake lights of the vehicle upon which the initiator isinstalled in response to a rate of closure between said vehicle and thepreceding vehicle which exceeds a predetermined rate, the initiatorbeing insensitive to the red component of the white light.

These and other objects of this invention may be better understood'byreference to the following description of a preferred embodimentof theinvention and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pair of vehicles traveling in a normaltraffic configuration with the trailing vehicle incorporating theinitiator of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the preferred embodiment of the brakeand directional lights initiator of this invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 includes a light sensor l2 and a lightsensor 14 for monitoring the light radiating from the rear of apreceding vehicle 16. The light sensors 12 and 14 are roughly collimatedand have respective sensing corridors l8 and 20 which intersect theground ata predetermined distance in front of the vehicle l'so as tolimit the operating distance of the initiator to be described. The lightsensors 12 and 14 are also oriented so as to view the respective rightand left side of the rear of the vehicle 16, the light sensor 12 notbeing able to sense the light output from tne left side of the vehicleand conversely, the light sensor 14 being unable to sense light outputfrom the right side of the rear of the vehicle 16. A circuit to bedescribed is carried by the vehicle 10 for initiating the energizationof its brake and directional lights in response to the energization ofthe respective brake and directional lights of the vehicle 16 and toenergize the brake lights when the rate of closure between the vehicles10 and 16 exceeds a predetermined magnitude.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the light sensor 12 consists of threephotosensitive devices 22, 24 and 26, a yellow filter 28, a blue filter30 and a red filter 32. The yellow filter 28 is positioned relative tothe photosensitive device 28 such that only the yellow component oflight impinging on the light sensor 12 is sensed by the photosensitivedevice 28. Similarly, the blue and red filters 30 and 32 are positionedrelative to the photosensitive devices 24 and 26, respectively, suchthat only the blue and red components of the light impinging on thelight sensor 12 are sensed by the respective photosensitive devices 24and 26.

White light from various man-made sources contains approximately equalamounts of the colors blue, yellow and red, hereinafter referred as theprimary colors. Since light from these sources, such as street lightsand oncoming vehicle headlights, will from time to time exist in thesensing corridor 18 of the light sensor 12, illumination of the lightsensor 12 from those sources must not cause the initiation of the brakeand directional light of the vehiclev 10 upon which the light sensors 12and 14 are mounted. The right light sensor 12 includes the three filters28, 30 and 32 and the plurality of photosensitive devices 22, 24 and 26so as to provide a means of identifying white light, which is rich inred, and to use this information to prevent the brake and directionallights of the vehicle 10 from being initiated when the net light sensedby the light sensor 12 is white light.

A light discriminator and signal control circuit 34 is provided formonitoring the outputs of the photosensitive devices 22, 24 and 26 andfor generating an output signal when the net light impinging on thelight sensor 12 is white light. The circuit 34 accomplishes thisfunction by determining whether the percentages of each of the primarycolors contained in the net light impinging on the light sensor 12 aresubstantially equal.

The output of the photosensitive device 22, which monitors the yellowcomponent of the light impinging on the light sensor 12, is coupled tothe input of an amplifier 36 having a gain greater than unity, whichgain may be, for example, 1.2, and to the input of an amplifier 38 whichhas a gain less than unity, which gain may be, for example, 0.8. Theoutputs of theamplifiers 36 and 38 represent a tolerance band around themagnitude of yellow light sensed by the photosensitve device 22. Theoutput of the photosensitive device 24, representing the blue lightcomponent of the light impinging on the light sensor 12, is comparedwith the outputs of the amplifiers 36 and 38 to determine whether theyellow and blue components of the light impinging on the light sensor 12are approximately equal. This is accomplished by a pair of differentialamplifiers 40 and 42. The output of the amplifier 36 is supplied to thepositive input of the differential amplifier 40 and the output of theamplifier 38 is supplied to the negative input of the differentialamplifier 42. The output of the photosensitive device 24 is coupled tothe negative input of the differential amplifier 40 and to the positiveinput of the differential amplifier 42. When the blue component of lightimpinging on the light sensor 12 is substantially equal to the yellowcomponent thereof, i.e., within the tolerance band generated by theamplifiers 36 and 38, both of the outputs of the differential amplifiers40 and 42 are positive voltages. When the blue component is less than orgreater than the tolerance band, the outputs of the differentialamplifiers 42 and 40, respectively, are negative. The outputs of thedifferential amplifiers 40 and 42 are coupled to respective inputs of anAND gate 44 which generates a positive voltage at its output when theblue and yellow components of light impinging on the light sensor 12 aresubstantially equal.

The output of the photosensitive device 24 is coupled to the input of anamplifier 46 having a gain greater than unity, for example, 1.2, and tothe input of an amplifier 48 having a gain less than unity, for example,0.8. The outputs of the amplifiers 46 and 48 represent a tolerance bandaround the magnitude of blue light sensed by the photosensitive device24. The output of the photosensitive device 26 representing the redcomponent of the light impinging on the photosensitive device 26 iscompared with the outputs of the amplifiers 46 and 48 to determinewhether the blue and red components of the light impinging on the lightsensor 12 are approximately equal. This is accomplished by a pair ofdifferential amplifiers 50 and 52. The output of the amplifier 46 iscoupled to the positive input of the differential amplifier 50 and theoutput of the amplifier 48 is coupled to the negative input of thedifferential amplifier 52. The output of the photosensitive device 26 iscoupled to the negative input of the differential amplifier 50 and tothe positive input of the differential amplifier 52. When the redcomponent oflight impinging on the light sensor 12 is substantiallyequal to the blue component thereof, i.e., within the tolerance bandgenerated by the amplifiers 46 and 48, the outputs of both of thedifferential amplifiers 50 and 52 are positive potentials. When the redcomponent of the light impinging on the light sensor 12 is outside thetolerance band, i.e., less than the gain of the amplifier 48 times theblue component of the light impinging on the light sensor 12 or greaterthan the gain of the amplifier 46 times the blue component, therespective differential amplifier 52 or 50 generates a negativepotential at its output. The outputs of the differential amplifiers 50and 52 are coupled to respective inputs of an AND gate 54 which isresponsive thereto for generating a positive potential when both of theoutputs of the differential amplifiers 50 and 52 are positive voltages.

The outputs of the AND gates 44 and 54 are coupled to respective inputsof an AND gate 56. When the yellow, blue and red componets of lightimpinging on the light sensor 12 are substantially equal, both of theAND gates 44 and 54 are enabled to supply a positive voltage to therespective inputs of the AND gate 56 which in turn is enabled to supplya positive voltage signal at its output. This positive voltagerepresents the fact that the net light impinging on the light sensor 12is white light. An inverter 57 inverts this voltage signal to supply aground signal when the net light impinging on the light sensor 12 iswhite light.

When a portion of the net light impinging on the light sensor 12 is fromthe right rear lights of preceding vehicle 16, the red component of thenet light sensed will be substantially larger than the yellow and bluecomponents sensed. Consequently, the output of the differentialamplifier 50 is a negative signal which inhibits the AND gate 54 andconsequently the AND gate 56 which supplies a ground signal at itsoutput. This output is inverted by the inverter 57 whose positive outputrepresents that at least a portion of the red light sensed by the lightsensor 12 is from the right rear of a preceding vehicle.

The output of the photosensitive device 26 representing the redcomponent of the light impinging on the light sensor 12 is coupled toground through a capacitor 58 and a resistor 60 and to ground through acapacitor 62 and a resistor 64. The junction between the capacitor 58and the resistor 60 is coupled to the positive input of a differentialamplifier 66 which receives a reference voltage V, at the negative inputthereof. The junction between the capacitor 62 and the resistor 64 iscoupled to the positive input of a differential amplifier 68 whichreceives a reference voltage V at its negative input.

The differential amplifier 68, the capacitor 62 and the resistor 64function as a rate circuit which generates a positive output voltagewhen the rate increase of the red component of light impinging on thelight sensor 12 as sensed by the photosensitive device 26 reaches apredetermined value. The values of the capacitor 62 and the resistor 64are such that a near step function increase in the red component isrequired to produce a voltage at the positive input of the differentialamplifier 68 which exceeds the reference voltage V,,. When thiscondition occurs, the output of the differential amplifier 68 shifts toa positive level to indicate that a near step function has occurred inthe red component of light impinging on the light sensor 12. Thiscondition will occur when the right brake or directional lights of thepreceding vehicle 16 of FIG. 1 are energized or when light from a whitelight source suddenly intersects the sensing corridor 18. The output ofthe differential amplifier 68 is a voltage pulse coupled to an input ofan AND gate 70 which receives at a second input thereof, the output ofthe inverter 72. The output of the inverter 57 is at ground potentialwhen the net light impinging on the light sensor 12 is white light aspreviously described. Therefore, if a positive voltage is supplied atthe output ofthe differential amplifier 68 as a result of a near stepinput of the red component of white light, the AND gate 70 is inhibitedby the output of the inverter 57 from generating an output signal.Conversely, when a near step input of red light is sensed which is not acomponent of white light, the outputs of the inverter 57 and thedifferential amplifier 68 enable the AND gate 70 to generate a positivevoltage pulse indicating the energization of the right brake ordirectional signal light of the preceding vehicle 16.

The differential amplifier 66, the capacitor 58 and the resistor 60function as a second rate circuit which generates a positive outputvoltage when the rate of increase of the red component of lightimpinging on the light sensor 12 as sensed by the photosensitive device26 reaches a predetermined value. The values of the capacitor 58 and theresistor 60 are such that a predetermined rate increase in the redcomponent less than a near step input is required to produce a voltageat the positive input'of the differential amplifier 66 which exceeds thereference voltage V,,. This predetermined rate increase in the red lightsensed represents a closing rate between the vehicle 10 and the redlight source such as would be caused by a potentially hazardous closingrate between the vehicle 16 and the vehicle 10 of FIG. 1 as determinedfrom the red light output of the right tail lights of the vehicle 16.The output of the differential amplifier 66 is coupled to ground througha resistor 74 and a capacitor 76, the junction between the resistor 74and the capacitor 76 being coupled to the positive input of adifferential amplifier 78. The differential amplifer 78 has a referencevoltage V supplied to the negative input thereof. The resistor 74 andthe capacitor 76 have a time constant such that the positive input tothe differential amplifier 78 exceeds the value VC a predetermined timeperiod after the output of the differential amplifier 66 goes positive.This time delay is sufficient to prevent the differential amplifier 78from generating an output signal when a nearstep input of red light issensed by the photosensitive device 26. The output of the differentialamplifier 78 is coupled to one input of an AND gate 80 which receives ata second input the output of the inverter 57. When the rate of increaseof the red light component of light impinging on the light sensor 12exceeds the predetermir ed value, the output of the differentialamplifier 66 shifts to a positive voltage level as previously described.If this rate of increase exists for the time period determined by thecapacitor 76 and the resistor 74, the output of the differentialamplifier 78 shifts to a positive voltage. If the net light sensed bythe light sensor 12 is white light, the AND gate is inhibited by theoutput of the inverter 57. If the net light sensed is not white lightand the rate increase of red light represents a potentially hazardousclosing rate, the AND gate 80 is enabled to supply a positive voltagesignal representing the potentially hazardous rate of closure betweenthe preceding vehicle 16 and the vehicle 12 of FIG. 1 for the timeduration fsuch rat e of closure.

The light sensor 14 of FIG. 1 is identical to the light sensor 12previously described. The outputs of the light sensor 14 are coupled toa light discriminator and signal control circuit 82 identical to thelight discriminator and signal control circuit 34. When the light sensor14 and the circuit 82 detect a step input representing the energizationof the left brake or directional lights of the preceding vehicle 16, apositive voltage pulse is supplied on the line 84. When the light sensor14 and the circuit 82 detect a potentially hazardous rate of closurebetween the preceding vehicle 16 and the vehicle 12, a positive voltageis supplied on the line 86 for the time duration that such rate ofclosure exists.

The output of the AND gate 80 and the line 86 are coupled to respectiveinputs of an OR gate 88 and to respective inputs of an OR gate 90. Theoutput of the OR gate 88 is coupled to an input of an OR gate 92 whoseoutput is coupled to an alarm 94. The output of the OR gate 90 iscoupled to the brake lights of the vehicle through a blocking diode 96and to an input of an AND gate 98. A conventional brake switch 100responsive to the actuation of the vehicle 10 brake pedal is providedbetween a source of power B+ which.

maybe, for example, the vehicle battery, and the brake lights forenergizing the brake lights in the conventional manner. ln addition, thesource of power 8+ is coupled to the input of an inverter 102 throughthe brake switch 100, the output of the inverter 102 being coupled to asecond input of the AND gate 98. The output of the AND gate 98 iscoupled to a second input of the OR gate 92.

When the rate of closure between the preceding vehicle l6 and thevehicle 12 of FIG. 1 exceeds the predetermined rate as determined by therate of increase of the red light component from the light output of thetail lights of the preceding vehicle l6 the positive voltage supplied atthe output of the AND gate or the posit ve voltage supplied on the line86 enables the OR gates 88 and 90 to supply positive voltagesrespectively to the OR gate 92, the AND gate 98 and the brake lightsthrough the diode 96. The positive voltage supplied to the OR gate 92enables the OR gate 92 to energize the alarm 94 to provide an indicationto the operator of the vehicle 10 of the potentially hazardous closingrate between the preceding vehicle 16 and the vehicle 10. The positivevoltage supplied through the diode 96 energizes the brake lights toprovide an indication to vehicles following the vehicle 10 of thepotentially hazardous condition. The brake lights are energized and thealarm is given as long as this rate of closure exists.

The output of the AND gate 70 is coupled to an input of an AND gate 104,to an input of an AND gate 106 and to the input of an inverter 108. Theoutput of the inverter 108 is coupled to an input of an AND gate 1 10.The line 84 from the light discriminator and signal control circuit 82is coupled to a second input of the AND gate l04,'to a second input ofthe AND gate 110 and to the input of an inverterl12. The output of theinverter 112 is coupledto a second input of the AND gate 106. The outputof the AND gate 106 is coupled to the right directional lamps of thevehicle 10 and the output of the AND gate 1 10 is coupled to the leftdirectional lzg nps of the vehicle lfl. pm, W

When the right turn signal lights on the preceding vehicle 16 areflashed, a positive voltage pulse is supplied by the AND gate 70 eachtime the right signal lights are energized and the output of the lightdiscriminator and signal control circuit is a continuous ground signal.As the output of the inverter 112 is then a positive voltage, the ANDgate 106 is enabled by each positive pulse input from the AND gate 70 toflash the right directional lights of the vehicle 10. The AND gates 104and 110 are inhibited by the ground signal input through El1i V When theleft turn signal lights on'the preceding vehicle 16 are flashed, apositive voltage pulse is supplied by the light discriminator and signalcontrol circuit 82 through'the line 84 each time the left signal lightsare energized and the output of the AND gate 70 is a continuous groundsignal. As the output of the inverter 108 is then a positive voltage,the AND gate 110 is enabled by each positive pulse input through theline 84 to flash the left directional lights of the vehicle 10. The ANDgates 104 and 106 are inhibited by the ground signal input e zt teeliqste 1.0-.

If the brake lights of the preceding vehicleiare ener I gized, both ofthe light discriminator and signal control circuits 34 and 82 detect theresulting near step increase in the red component of light and supply apositive voltage pulse at the output of the AND gate 70 and on the line84 respectively. As both inputs to the AND gate 104 are then positivevoltages, the output thereof shifts to a positive voltage which issupplied to the OR gate 90. The OR gate 90 is enabled thereby to supplya positive voltage to the AND gate 98 and through the diode 96 toenergize the brake lights of the vehicle 10 for the duration of thevoltage pulses at the output of the AND gate 80 and on the line 84. Inthis manner the brake lights of the vehicle 10 are initiated, it beingnecessary for the operator of the vehicle 10 to actuate the brakes tomaintain the brake lights energized. If at that time the vehicle brakeswitch is open, the output of the inverter 102 is a positive voltagewhich enables t A a 98 P Y a Re al 2 re axer :95..

gate 92 which is responsive thereto for energizing the alarm 94 toprovide an indication of the actuation of the brakes of the precedingvehicle, If the brakes of the vehicle 10 are actuated and the brakeswitch 100 is closed, the output of the inverter 102 is a ground signalwhich inhibits the AND gate to prevent the alarm 94 from beingenergized.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the outputs of thebrake switch 100, the AND gate 106 and the AND gate 110 could be coupledto the directional signal mechanism where certain switching functionscould be performed, such as rendering the outputs of the AND gates 106and 110 ineffective when the directional signal mechanism is operated toindicate a turn and for permitting the use of single lamp filaments forboth brake and directional indications.

The detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionfor the purpose of explaining the principles thereof is not to beconsidered as limiting or restricting the invention, since manymodifications may be made by the exercise of skill in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for automatically energizing the brake and directionallights of a vehicle comprising: first and second light sensing meansmounted on the vehicle for viewing the light output from the right andleft rear, respectively, of a preceding vehicle, each of the lightsensing means including first signal generating means for generating afirst signal having a magnitude related to the red color component oflight impinging on the respective light sensing means, second signalgenerating means for generating a second signal having a magnituderelated to at least one other color component of light impinging on therespective light sensing means, said other color being a color componentof white light and having a known relationship to the red colorcomponent of white light, and means coupled to the first and secondsignal generating means for generating a control signal when the redcolor component of light sensed and the other color component of lightsensed as represented by the first and second signals have arelationship different from the known relationship; first gate meansresponsive to the control signals for energizing the right directionallights of the vehicle when only the control signal associated with thefirst light sensing means is being generated; second gate meansresponsive to the control signals for energizing the left directionallights of the vehicle when only the control signal associated with thesecond light sensing means is being generated; and third gate meansresponsive to the control signals for energizing the brake lights of thevehicle while both of the control signals are being simultaneouslygenerated, the brake and directional lights of the vehicle beingenergized in response to like energization of the brake and directionallights of the preceding vehicle.

'2. An apparatus for automatically energizing the brake and directionallights of a vehicle comprising: first and second light sensing meansmounted on the vehicle for viewing the light output from the right andleft rear, respectively, of a preceding vehicle, each of the lightsensing means including first signal generating means for generating afirst signal having a magnitude related to the red color component oflight impinging on the respective light sensing means, second signalgenerating means for generating a second signal having a magnituderelated to at least one other color component of light impinging on therespective light sensing means, said other color being a color componentof white light and having a known relationship to the red colorcomponent of white light, means coupled to the first and second signalgenerating means for generating a first enabling signal when the redcolor component of light sensed and the other color component of lightsensed as represented by the first and second signals have arelationship different from the known relationship, a rate circuitresponsive to a step increase in the first signal for generating asecond enabling signal, and first gate means responsive to thesimultaneous generation of the first and second enabling signals forgenerating a control signal; second gate means responsive to the controlsignals for energizing the right directional lights of the vehicle whenonly the control signal associated with the first light sensing means isgenerated; third gate means responsive to the control signals forenergizing the left directional lights of the vehicle when only thecontrol signal associated with the second light sensing means is beinggenerated; and fourth gate means responsive to the control signals forenergizing the brake lights of the vehicle while both of the controlsignals are being simultaneously generated, the brake and directionallights of the vehicle being energized in response to like energizationof the brake and directional light of the preceding vehicle.

3. An apparatus for automatically energizing the brake and directionallights of a vehicle comprising: first and second light sensing meansmounted on the vehicle for viewing the light output from the right andleft rear, respectively, of a preceding vehicle, each of the lightsensing means including first signal generating means for generating afirst signal having a magnitude related to the red color component oflight impinging on the respective light sensing means, second signalgenerating means for generating a second signal having a magnituderelated to at least one other color component of light impinging on therespective light sensing means, said other color being a color componentof white light and having a known relationship to the red colorcomponent of white light, means coupled to the first and second signalgenerating means for generating a first enabling signal when the redcolor component of light sensed and the other color component of lightsensed as represented by the first and second signals have arelationship different from the known relationship, a first rate circuitresponsive to a step increase in the first signal for generating asecond enabling signal, a second rate circuit responsive to a rateincrease in the first signal representing a predetermined closure ratebetween the vehicle and the preceding vehicle for generating a thirdenabling signal, first gate means responsive to the simultaneousgeneration of the first and second enabling signals for generating afirst control signal, and second gate means responsive to thesimultaneous generation of the first and third enabling signals forgenerating a second control signal; third gate means responsive to thefirst control signals for energizing the right directional lights of thevehicle when only the first control signal associated with the firstlight sensing means is generated; fourth gate means responsive to thefirst control signals for energizing the left directional lights of thevehicle when only the first control signal associated with the secondlight sensing means is being generated; fifth gate means responsive tothe first control signals for energizing the brake lights of the vehiclewhile both of the first control signals are being simultaneouslygenerated; and sixth gate means responsive to the second control signalsfor energizing the brake lights of the vehicle when one or both of thesecond control signals is being generated, the brake and directionallights of the vehicle being energized in remined ratesponse to likeenergization of the brake and directional

1. An apparatus for automatically energizing the brake and directionallights of a vehicle comprising: first and second light sensing meansmounted on the vehicle for viewing the light output from the right andleft rear, respectively, of a preceding vehicle, each of the lightsensing means including first signal generating means for generating afirst signal having a magnitude related to the red color component oflight impinging on the respective light sensing means, second signalgenerating means for generating a second signal having a magnituderelated to at least one other color component of light impinging on therespective light sensing means, said other color being a color componentof white light and having a known relationship to the red colorcomponent of white light, and means coupled to the first and secondsignal generating means for generating a control signal when the redcolor component of light sensed and the other color component of lightsensed as represented by the first and second signals have arelationship different from the known relationship; first gate meansresponsive to the control signals for energizing the right directionallights of the vehicle when only the control signal associated with thefirst light sensing means is being generated; second gate meansresponsive to the control signals for energizing the left directionallights of the vehicle when only the control signal associated with thesecond light sensing means is being generated; and third gate meansresponsive to the control signals for energizing the brake lights of thevehicle while both of the control signals are being simultaneouslygenerated, the brake and directional lights of the vehicle beingenergized in response to like energization of the brake and directionallights of the preceding vehicle.
 2. An apparatus for automaticallyenergizing the brake and directional lights of a vehicle comprising:first and second light sensing means mounted on the vehicle for viewingthe light output from the right and left rear, respectively, of apreceding vehicle, each of the light sensing means including firstsignal generating means for generating a first signal having a magnituderelated to the red color component of light impinging on the respectivelight sensing means, second signal generating means for generating asecond signal having a magnitude related to at least one other colorcomponent of light impinging on the respective light sensing means, saidother color being a color component of white light and having a knownrelationship to the red color component of white light, means coupled tothe first and second signal generating means for generating a firstenabling signal when the red color component of light sensed and theother color component of light sensed as represented by the first andsecond signals have a relationship different from the knownrelationship, a rate circuit responsive to a step increase in the firstsignal for generating a second enabling signal, and first gate meansresponsive to the simultaneous generation of the first and secondenabling signals for generating a control signal; second gate meansresponsive to the control signals for energizing the right directionallights of the vehicle when only the control signal associated with thefirst light sensing means is generated; third gate means responsive tothe control signals for energizing the left directional lights of thevehicle when only the control signal associated with the second lightsensing means is being generated; and fourth gate means responsive tothe control signals for energizing the brake lights of the vehicle whileboth of the control signals are being simultaneously generated, thebrake aNd directional lights of the vehicle being energized in responseto like energization of the brake and directional light of the precedingvehicle.
 3. An apparatus for automatically energizing the brake anddirectional lights of a vehicle comprising: first and second lightsensing means mounted on the vehicle for viewing the light output fromthe right and left rear, respectively, of a preceding vehicle, each ofthe light sensing means including first signal generating means forgenerating a first signal having a magnitude related to the red colorcomponent of light impinging on the respective light sensing means,second signal generating means for generating a second signal having amagnitude related to at least one other color component of lightimpinging on the respective light sensing means, said other color beinga color component of white light and having a known relationship to thered color component of white light, means coupled to the first andsecond signal generating means for generating a first enabling signalwhen the red color component of light sensed and the other colorcomponent of light sensed as represented by the first and second signalshave a relationship different from the known relationship, a first ratecircuit responsive to a step increase in the first signal for generatinga second enabling signal, a second rate circuit responsive to a rateincrease in the first signal representing a predetermined closure ratebetween the vehicle and the preceding vehicle for generating a thirdenabling signal, first gate means responsive to the simultaneousgeneration of the first and second enabling signals for generating afirst control signal, and second gate means responsive to thesimultaneous generation of the first and third enabling signals forgenerating a second control signal; third gate means responsive to thefirst control signals for energizing the right directional lights of thevehicle when only the first control signal associated with the firstlight sensing means is generated; fourth gate means responsive to thefirst control signals for energizing the left directional lights of thevehicle when only the first control signal associated with the secondlight sensing means is being generated; fifth gate means responsive tothe first control signals for energizing the brake lights of the vehiclewhile both of the first control signals are being simultaneouslygenerated; and sixth gate means responsive to the second control signalsfor energizing the brake lights of the vehicle when one or both of thesecond control signals is being generated, the brake and directionallights of the vehicle being energized in response to like energizationof the brake and directional light of the preceding vehicle and thebrake lights of the vehicle being energized when the closure ratebetween the vehicle and the preceding vehicle is at the predeterminedrate.